I am a quilter - a recently-retired woman living with my husband in the Nebraska Panhandle. We are surrounded by beautiful semi-arid ranch country, and treeless hills and fields under incredibly wide blue skies. We are located far from the upheaval found often in large towns or cities. I am blessed to have delicious time to quilt and to appreciate my peaceful moments in an unpeaceful world.

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Wednesday, December 07, 2011

Fooling Around - Six Strips

I HAD to try this idea, seen on YouTube from Missouri Star. Their sample was in girly pinks and yellows, with a lot of white in them.

Start with strips - I used six, 1.5 inch strips - I'll bet you can use various widths for this (that's another project!). My strata was even crooked!

I sewed 6, 1.5 inch strips together into a strata, pressed up or down, then cut the strata to make a 6 1/2 inch square. I think any size square will do, but decide on the length of your strata for the best use of fabric. I got 6, 6 1/2 inch squares to my strata.

Face two squares together, one vertical, the other horizontal. Then, sew around the outside 4 sides of the 2 squares, with quarter inch seam. Then make two (2) diagonal cuts, corner to corner. Press open, and sew together in whatever pattern you like. I really liked that spool-like pattern. I was VERY casual, and didn't pay attention to the seams matching, but it would be better to be careful and exact, if you start with all same size strips. And I think it would be wise to choose a pallette of similar scraps, where you had enough for the entire project. Be sure you use lights and darks for contrast.

I saw that video too, and also think it would make great QOV quilts....or 30s fabrics quilts, or Christmas quilts, or batiks/hand dyes mix. I guess it would make all kinds of interesting quilts. Just changing the size of the strips could really change the look.

OH MY - thanks so much. I have been in a fit making strip sets - without any idea why - I just couldn't stand my scrap strings any longer... I have a giant stack of them... can't wait to try this technique... thanks. Kathleen